Life-saving belt and the like



Feb. 20, 1923.- 1,446,099. H. MARKS.

LIFE SAVING BELT AND THE LIKE.

FILED JAN. 17, I922.

Imam/60 fing/Mkrha, 89 w Patented Feb. 20, 1923.

ETED:

HENRY IVIARKS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LIFE-SAVILTG BELT AI Q'D THE LIKE.

Application filedJanuary 17', 1922 Serial No. 529,557.

.quired buoyancy in swimming exercises or for l1fe saving uses, and the present 1m-' provements have for their objects To provide a structural formation and a combination of parts whereby the sheets of fabric forming the life belt or garment are secured together at their margins and are stayed together at such margins so as to effectively resist the heavy tearing strains to which the connections are exposed in actual use.

To provide a simple and effective formation of parts whereby freedom to flexure of the body of the wearer in lateral directions is permitted in connection with ample buoyancy in the appliance and'its secure attachment in place.

To provide means whereby the sheets of fabric forming the 'main portion of the appliance are connected together intermediate their extent, to prevent undue separation or swelling of the central portions of the appliance and at the same time permit of the entire inflation of the appliance through a single inflating means.

In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1, is a perspective view illustrating the general arrangementof parts in the preferred form of the invention. a

Fig. 2, is a vertical section through the central rear portion of the appliance.

Fig. 3, is an enlarged detail horizontal section of said portion of the appliance.

Fig. 4, is an enlarged detail section of a border portion of the appliance and showing the present means of staying the sheets of fabric together at, their margins.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designatesthe main body of the life belt or garment,which in its open condition is of an elongated form, with its respective ends provided with fastening straps and buckles 2 or like fastening or layers of rubberized fabric or th'elike,

. over theshoulders of the as follows means asiusual in the present type of appliances, and by which the appliance mien a meet encircling condition around the chest and abdomen of the user is securely held inplao'e.

The main body 1 is formed of two sheets secured togetherat theirborders or margins in manner hereinafter described, to provide an air cavity in the central and main portion of the body 1, which when inflated the buoyancy required in actualu'se.

with air through an inflation tube '3 affords In the preferred .form' of the appliance shown, the upper border portion of the body I .1 is formed with curved gaps or recesses 4.

adapted to permit freedom of movement of the arms of the user, and at such" points straps and buckles 5 are provided, and pass user to prevent any displacement of'the tendency to downward The lower border appliance in actual use; portion of the body 1 is away to form gaps or recesses 6adaptedto permit free lateral hip and likemovements of the users body, and in the present'improvement the lower strap 2 .heretofore 'detions of said gaps or recesses 6 to prevent undue spreading of the appliance at such points. I

7 designates a duplex strap attached to the lower border portion of the appliance, and at the rear portion thereof. Said strap is adapted to extend between the legs of the user, and has branched forward ends or shift of the appliance in actual use.

The border'seam or connection between the counterpart fabric sheets of the main body 1, in the present improvement is formed 9 designates a folded stay strip ofyfabric.

in like manner cut i I scribed is arranged to span the lower por-,

inserted at a point removedfrom the border I edges of the sheets constituting the main body 1, with theinner surfaces of said sheets cemented to the outer surfaces of the folds of the stay strip 9, and with the contacting border portions outside the staystrip9 cemented together as illustrated more particularly in Figs. 2 and 4. With the described construction-the border connection of the main body 1 is attained in a ready and substantial manner, adapted. to resist sudden and violent internal stresses met with in actual use.

1O designates one or more flat tubular stays formed of fabric, and which are cemented to the inner faces of the sheets constituting the main body 1, with a view to hold said sheets from undue separation when the appliance is fuily intlated and in actual use. In their preferred form the tubular stays 10 are made of a less height than the height of the air cavity of the appliance, in order that air may enter the tubular cavity of the stay 10 from either end, and that the main air c e ntaining chamber of the appliance may be continuous throughout and capable of infiation by a single inflating); means.-

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an inflatable life belt and the like,

the combination of inner and outer sheets of air tight fabric, a folded stay strip of fabric arranged between the border portions of said sheets With the inner surfaces of said sheets cemented to the outer faces of the folds of the stay strip, and a tubular stay of fabric arranged intermediate the widti of the belt and cemented to the inner surface of the inner and outer sheets aforesaid.

2. In an inflatable life belt and the like, the combination of inner and outer sheets of air tight fabric, a folded stay strip of fabric arranged between the border portions of "said sheets with the inner surfaces of said sheets cemented to the outer faces of the folds of the stay strip, and a tubular stay of fabric arranged intermediate the Width of the belt and cemented to the inner surface of the inner and outer sheets aforesaid, theit tubular stay being open at its respective en s.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, of January, A. D. 1922.

HENRY MARKS.

this 16th day 

